Liam POV:
She was resisting.
It shouldn't be possible. She was human-or effectively human. My command should have flattened her. Seeing her stand there, pale and shaking but upright, made my wolf pace restlessly in my mind.
*Why isn't she submitting?* my wolf growled. *She smells like nothing, but she stands like a warrior.*
"She's defying you, Liam," Seraphina whispered in my ear, her voice dripping with poison. "She's making you look weak in front of the Summit."
Seraphina was right. I couldn't let a packless nobody disrespect me here. Not when I was trying to secure a trade deal with the Southern Alphas.
"Security!" I barked. "This woman is disturbing the peace. She is mentally unstable and potentially dangerous."
The Beta guard straightened up, shaking off the residual effect of my command. "Yes, Alpha."
"Wait," Seraphina interjected, a cruel glint in her eyes. "Don't throw her out yet. Look at the mess she made with the water."
She pointed to the few drops on the floor from Elena's hand.
"Make her clean it," Seraphina suggested loudly. "If she wants to stay in the hotel, let her work for it. That's all she's good for, isn't it? Cleaning up after her betters."
The crowd murmured in agreement. It was a classic power play. Establish dominance by turning the enemy into a servant.
"Fine," I said, crossing my arms. "Clean it up, Elena. And maybe I'll let you keep the stone."
Elena pulled her wrist from my grip. I was surprised by her strength. She backed away, clutching that grey rock like it was a diamond.
"I'm not your servant, Liam. And I'm not your enemy. I'm just a mother who wants to leave."
"Seize her," the head of security ordered, stepping in. He wanted to look competent before the Alpha King arrived. "She is resisting instructions."
Two guards moved to flank her.
As Elena raised her hands to defend herself, the light from the chandelier hit the stone in her hand.
My breath hitched.
I recognized that stone.
It was a raw, uncut moonstone. Five years ago, when we were young and stupidly in love, I had bought a large moonstone geode for her. We had broken it open together. I kept one half; she kept the other.
It was supposed to be a promise. A promise I broke when I realized she couldn't shift.
She still had it.
A wave of twisted satisfaction rolled over me. She kept it. After all the insults, after the rejection, after five years of silence... she kept the piece of me I gave her.
I held up a hand to stop the guards.
"Wait," I said, my voice softer, laced with arrogance.
I looked at Elena, really looked at her. She was thinner, tired, but still beautiful in a fragile way.
"You kept it," I said, a smirk touching my lips. "That's the stone I gave you."
Elena looked confused. "What?"
"Don't play dumb," I stepped closer, ignoring Seraphina's stiffening posture next to me. "You came here to find me, didn't you? You used the stone as an excuse to get close. You still love me."
It was the only logical explanation. Why else would she be here? Why else would she fight so hard for a rock?
"Liam, you're delusional," Elena said, her voice flat.
"It's okay to admit it," I said, reaching out to touch her hair. "Maybe... if you beg properly... I can find a place for you in the pack. Not as Luna, obviously. But I could take care of you."
It was a generous offer. A magnanimous offer.
I expected tears of gratitude. I expected her to fall into my arms.
Instead, she looked at me with a look of pure, unadulterated pity.
"That stone," she said quietly, "is for my son. It has nothing to do with you."
